Toothbrush



Dec. 10, 1929.

w. M. NE-ISSL 1,739,324

TOOTHBHUSH Filed 001;. 15, 1928 WITNESSES INVENTOR 6 rig/@5 32 ATTORNEY I MW W Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED STATES WILLIAM M. NEISSL, or CHARLESTON, ARKANSAS TOOTHBRUSH Application filed October 15, 1928. Serial No. 312,669.

My invention relates to tooth brushes, and an object of the same is to provide a brush embodying a holder and a removable brush element, which may be readily removed and cleansed after use.

Further, the invention provides a tooth brush embodying a flexible foldable brush element, which may be conveniently spread apart so that its entire surface may be 1 cleansed, thereby preventing bacteria from lodging between the rows of bristles as is now the case with the usual tooth brush.

With the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind, the invention consists in the novel combination of elements, constructions and arrangements of parts and opera tions to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved tooth brush,

Figure 2 is a view, partly in front elevation and partly in longitudinal section, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the brush element embodied in the invention,

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring to the invention in detail, a

' brush element is provided consisting of a longitudinal strip of flexible material 5, preferably rubber, having bristles 6 incorporated therein and projecting from one edge thereof. As illustrated in Figure 3, the strip 5 is provided with a plurality of spaced transverse creases 7 to afford folds 8 which, when the brush element is in use, lie in superimposed parallel relation. While the brush element in this instance is formed in a single length, it may be formed from a plurality of small strips to be arranged in superimposed relation.

For the purpose of holding the brush element in folded relation to afford a unitary brush surface, a holder is provided consisting of a resilient U-shaped handle 10 having crossed parallel jaws 11 and 12. At its for- 0 ward end, the jaw 11 is formed with a rightangular extension 13, abut-ted by the free end of the jaw 12. A substantially rectangularfiange or wall 15 is formed with the jaw 11 and extension 13, and extends to the inner face of the jaw 12, and with the jaws constitutes a holder for the brush element.

In order to hold the jaws in clamping engagement with the brush element for use, the legs of the U-shaped handle are provided with. oppositely extending lateral extensions 16. These extensions 16 are disposed in trans-- verse alinement, and are located in advance of the point where the jaws cross. As particularly illustrated in Figure 4, the inner face of one of the extensions is provided with a plurality of serrations or teeth 17, while the inner end of the other extension is provided with an inwardly directed catch 18 adapted to engage in any one of the serrations, and thereby hold the legs of the U shaped handle against springing apart.

When it is desired to remove the folded brush element, it is only necessary to move the legs of the U-shaped handle toward each other, by exerting manual grip thereon. When the legs have been thus moved, they will laterally separate due to their resiliency, and consequently permit the aws 11 and 12 to spring apart.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, a resilient U-shaped handle member, crossed parallel jaws carried by the ends thereof, and latch means associated with the legs of the U- shaped handle slightly in advance of the points of intersection of the aws to normall v hold them against lateral separation and thus hold the jaws in position to clamp an object therebetween.

2. In a device of the character described. a resilient U-shaped handle member, crossed parallel jaws carried by the ends thereof, and co-acting normally interlocked latch elements carried by the legs of the U-shaped member adjacent the points of intersection of the aws to prevent lateral separation of the legs and thereby hold the jaws in clamping relation.

3. In a device of the character described, a

which is normally resilient U-shaped handle member, crossed parallel jaws carried by the ends thereof, a flange extending at right angles from one edge of one of the jaws and cooperating with such jaws in holding an object, and latch means associated with the legs of the U- shaped handle slightly in advance of the points of intersection of the jaws to normally prevent lateral separation of the jaws.

i. In a device of the character described a, resilient U-shaped handle member the legs of which terminate in crossed extensions, (:0- operating jaws carried by the extensions, and normally engaged coacting latch elements carried by the legs of the U-shaped member at a point slightly in advance of the point of intersection of the crossed extensions and normally holding the jaws against lateral separation.

WILLIAM M. NEISSL. 

